Devolved ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions expressing their ‘deep concern’ about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on poverty levels, particularly child poverty. The ministers are calling on Chloe Smith MP to apply a £25 weekly emergency uplift to all means-tested benefits
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government, Ben Macpherson MSP, the Minister for Communities in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Minister for Social Justice in the Welsh Government are also asking the new Department Work and Pensions (DWP) boss to implement a comprehensive benefit take-up strategy and abolish the benefit cap and the two-child limit.
The letter from October 6 states: “We are deeply concerned about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on poverty levels, particularly child poverty. Many people are struggling to afford even the basic essentials, including buying food, heating their homes and paying rising bills.”
